With this Michelangelo Tour in Florence we will discover the genius of Michelangelo Buonarroti, who was born and lived in Florence. He mainly made sculptures in Florence, even though his name is universally bound to the frescos of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Sculptor, painter, architect and poet, he realized that the sculpture, more than any other form of art, is able to transmit a deep emotion through the matter. Michelangelo actually considered the sculpture like the art of taking off, to unveil the soul of the stone. I propose you to visit two of the most important museums in the city: the Bargello National Museum and the Medici Chapels (New Sacristy).
The Bargello National Museum is housed in a building erected in the 13th century. It was the seat of the Council of Justice. In 1865 it was turned into a National Museum. Today some of Michelangelo’s masterpieces are preserved here: the Bacchus, the Brutus, the David-Apollo and the Pitti Tondo. Some other awesome works are here, such as the wonderful bronze and marble statues of David by Donatello and the one of the same subject by Verrocchio, master of Leonardo da Vinci. In this museum we will learn how much influence Donatello had on Michelangelo, who lived one century after.
We will round off our Michelangelo Tour in Florence with the mausoleum of the Medici family, the famous Medici Chapels. They were built next to the family church of San Lorenzo. Michelangelo worked here for many years to create the New Sacristy. The master produced the monumental tombs of the Medici with allegorical figures representing the triumph of the dynasty over the passing of time. In particular, he made the statues of Night and Day on the tomb of Giuliano, Duke of Nemours, and the ones of Dusk and Dawn on the tomb of Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino. These are amongst the most dramatic artworks you can see in Florence. Michelangelo spent 3 months of his life in 1530 in a sort of self-detention hiding from the Medici family, who wanted to arrest him for having betrayed him. It’s the famed Stanza segreta or “secret room”, which can be visited only buying tickets in a large advance.
What will I see at the Bargello Museum?
At the Bargello National Museum you’ll see:
Can we visit Michelangelo’s Secret Room inside Medici Chapels?
Possibly. The Michelangelo’s Secret Room can only be visited with tickets booked far in advance, and availability is extremely limited.
Is your Michelangelo tour in Florence suitable for people who have already seen the Accademia?
Yes. Even if you’ve already seen David at the Accademia Gallery, this tour offers a deeper and less crowded perspective on Michelangelo’s work.
Why isn’t the Accademia Gallery included in the Michelangelo Tour in Florence?
In this tour, we don’t visit the Accademia Gallery. While it ‘s home to the famous David, it is also one of the most mainstream and crowded museums in Florence, included in almost every standard tour. Although the statue is truly extraordinary, the visiting experience can sometimes be challenging. The museum is often very crowded, making it difficult to fully enjoy the artwork or even clearly hear the guide. Tickets can also be hard to secure on short notice. For this reason, I prefer to introduce my guests to Michelangelo through the
Bargello National Museum and the
Medici Chapels. These are far less crowded and offer a deeper, more meaningful understanding of Michelangelo’s art and spirit. They are essential places to truly appreciate his work in a more relaxed and engaging way.
